PAUL J. AQUILLA, age 79, father of Jared Aquilla (Tracy) and Abigail Barnes (Steve); grandfather of Adelaide, Jonas and Ambrose Aquilla and Isabella and Ethan Barnes; brother of the late Sandy Blatchford.  Passed away March 1, 2021.  Funeral Mass Thursday, March 11, St. Anthony of Padua Church (1305 E. Erie Ave., Lorain) at 11 A.M. where social distancing will be observed and facemasks required.  Interment Middle Bass Island Cemetery and a Celebration of Life will be held in May (date to be announced).

Paul Jones Aquilla …

Father, Grandfather, Friend.

Paul graduated from Lorain High School in 1960 and went on to the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point NY where as a midshipman he crewed in the Bermuda Race.   Later, as an engineering cadet, he sailed the Whiskey Run (NYC to Scotland) and sailed aboard the Mormac Hawk aka the Mormac Creeper up and down the Eastern Americas seaboard.  He graduated with a degree in marine engineering,  a 3rd Assistant Engineer License and a commission in the United States Navy.  He was employed at American Shipbuilding and eventually became fleet engineer at M. A. Hanna.  Paul went on to own North American Marine where he conducted hull and machinery, cargo and tonnage surveys.  While traveling the waterfront along the Great Lakes he made many friends including captains, engineers, vessel owners, longshoremen, dock owners, railroaders, ship builders, fellow surveyors and bartenders.  In his "semi-retirement" years Paul moved to Middle Bass Island where he enjoyed perch fishing, making pickles and tomato juice and entertaining.

All who knew him would certainly agree, he was the most welcoming, generous person in the world.  If you ever had the pleasure of walking into his kitchen you can assuredly still hear him bellowing "Welcome Home".  Paul loved to get people together to celebrate any occasion with pig roasts, clam bakes, spaghetti dinners, fish fry's and capping off the night with Grasshoppers and Brandy Alexanders.

His greatest sense of pride were his grandchildren who he cherished and loved.  Paul's goals in life were to be helpful, neighborly and get along with everyone he met.  Once you were a friend of Paul's you were a friend for life.